Woman was not thinking, just stealing in supermarket

WRAPPING beef and cheese in her daughter's jumper with the intention of stealing them from Drake's Supa IGA was Kelly-Anne Blackman's version of "not thinking".

Blackman fronted Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 13 answering to one charge of unauthorised dealing with shop goods.

At noon on April 25, Blackman was noticed concealing the goods in an item of clothing.

When management approached her, Blackman claimed she had insufficient funds to pay for the goods after first exclaiming, "Oh, I'm busted now".

Blackman accompanied the on-duty manager when she confirmed it had been her intention to steal the items.

The court heard Blackman had endured a death in the family that same day and that she "wasn't thinking".

Magistrate Russell Warfield accepted the early plea of guilty and the defendant's co-operation with management and police.

However, he commented during sentencing that stocks on supermarkets shelves were bought at the expense of supermarket owners, and every item stolen from the shelves was depriving them of their livelihoods.

Blackman was ordered to pay a fine of $200, with no conviction recorded.